Intermittent surgical suction apparatus



June 7, 1960 c. M. SORENSEN INTERMITTENT SURGICAL SUCTION APPARATUS Filed Feb. 20, 1959 INVENTOR CHARLES M. SORENSEN A RNEY United States Patent INTERMITTENT SURGICAL SUCTION APPARATUS Charles Milton Sore risen, 139 Prospect Ave.,

Douglaston, N.Y.

Filed Feb. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 794,590

4 Claims. (Cl. 128-276) A serious disadvantage in this type of suction apparatu resides in the fact that it operates continuously without interruption. Stated differently, it provides a continuous unbroken suction force at the terminal end of the drainage tube. The result, in many cases is that the adjacent tissues are sucked up into said drainage tube, thereby block'mg it oil and preventing further drainage. This not only defeats the purpose of the apparatus but it also may cause damage or injury to the affected tissues.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of an intermittent suction apparatus which is adapted to intersperse periods of suction with intervals of release from such suction. In the operation of this device, should the drainage or suction tube trap the adjacent tissues during the suction period, these tissues would quickly be released when the suction force is interrupted.

Briefly stated, the present device makes use of a conventional source such as a suction pump or a central suction system, it makes use of a conventional drainage collection bottle, conventional tubing interconnecting the suction source with said bottle and leading into the drainage area, and it also makes use of a conventional needle valve or like valve system for controlling the air fiow which is applied through said apparatus. However, in addition to the conventional elements, the present apparatus includes a modified form of mercury manometer which is incorporated into the suction line. This manometer permits the suction system to build up to a predetermined partial vacuum and once said partial vacuum is attained the manometer opens the suction system to the atmosphere and thereby reduces the vacuum to a This procedure is intermittent and automatic since the apparatus is adapted to produce a partial vac uum in excess of that permitted by the manometer. Consequently each time such partial vacuum is developed, it is automatically broken and the process is then repeated to produce the intermittent elfect desired.

The apparatus thus described and herein claimed is adapted to be adjusted in accordance with individual requirements. For example, a needle valve is provided to control the air flow which is applied to the system by the suction source. The point at which the manometer would interrupt the suction is determined by various factors within the manometer itself and it may be modified to produce the result sought.

The manometer used in the apparatus herein described and claimed is of unusual design and will shortly be more fully described. Suffice it to say at this point however, it may be adjusted in various ways to break the suction at any desired point. For example, the quantity of mercury ice with which it is provided may be varied for this purpose. Also the length of its operative tube may be varied for the same purpose. These are simple modifications which, once made, remain fixed as long as desired.

Another feature of the invention is the use of a flow meter which measures flow and gives visual information regarding same. This is valuable in the operation of the present device but it is not absolutely essential.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view, partly broken away and the section showing the entire apparatus exclusive of the source of suction;

Fig. 2 is a back view of the modified manometer which is one of the components of said apparatus;

Fig. 3 is another view of the said modified manometer showing it partly in vertical section to clearly disclose its operative parts.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section through said modified manometer taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing it will be understood that tube 10 is connected at one endv to a conventional suction source such as a suction pump or a central suction system. At its opposite end, it is connected to an adjustable needle valve 12. Said needle valve is connected to a. manifold or housing 14 which is provided with means adapted to attach it to a suitable support. Specifically and by way of illustration a plate or bracket 16 mounted on a pair of screw members 18 and a pair of knurled thumb nuts 20 on said screw members comprise the means for attaching said manifold to a support. The support is positioned between the manifold and said plate 16 and nuts 20 are tightened to clamp said manifold and said plate to said support.

A fitting 22 is connected to one end of the manifold 14 by means of a screw type coupling 24. Mounted on fitting 22 is a conventional flow meter 26 having a glass envelope.28 and a glass tube 30 mounted therein. A calibrated scale 32 is disposed within said glass tube as is a ball 34. The glass tube communicates with the suction system in conventional manner and the ball is caused to rise in direct proportion to the extent of air flow developed therein.

A second threaded coupling 40, connects fitting 22 to a tube 42 and said tube is also connected through threaded coupling 44 to a fixed tube 46 in a jar or bottle cap 48. This cap isadapted to be screwed to a collection bottle 50 of conventional design. Fixed tube 46 projects through cap 48 and into said bottle 50 and it will be observed that the terminal end of said fixed tube constitutes a modified form of needle valve 52. SlidabIy mounted in said fixed tube is a rod 54 which serves as the needle of said valve. The upper end of said rod being provided with a conical head 56. A valve seat 58 is provided in needle valve 52' for enagagement with said tapered head 56 of rod or needle 54. Orifices 60 are provided in valve 52 for communication with the inside of the bottle. Secured to the lower end of rod or needle 54 by means of wire loops 62 is a hollow ball 64 which serves as a float. It will be understood from the foregoing that when the liquid contents of the bottle reaches a predetermined level, float 64 will rise and thereby cause tapered head 56 to set itself againstthe valve of set 58, thereby closing off the bottle from the rest of the suction system.

Also projecting through cap 48 is a drainage tube 70 which drains or empties into the bottle. At its upper end, tube 70 is connected to a conventional drainage tube which may be inserted into the body cavity requiring "drainage. The material which is sucked out of such cavity is carried through drainage tube 70 and collected in the bottle.

The key element of the suction apparatus herein claimed will now be described. Reference is hereby made to the modified manometer 80 which is best shown in Fig. 3.v This manometer comprises a glassorplastic tube 82' which is closed at the bottom and operrat the top, a second tube 84 disposed within said 'first tube 82, said second tube being open both at the top and bottom, and an annular web 86 between the two tubes, :1 fitting 88 at the upper end of the first tube 82, a screw type collar 90 adapted to attach the upper end of said first tube 82 to said fitting 88, a threaded coupling 92 which is adapted to attach fitting 88 to manifold '14, and a quantity of mercury 94 which is normally-disposed at the lower closed end of .tube-82 as shown in Fig. 2. An opening 96 is provided in the side wall of .a tube 82 and said opening provides communication between the inside of said tube and the atmosphere.

In operation of the suction apparatus hereinabove described, a suction force is applied to saidapparatus through tube 10. A partial vacuum is thereby built up in the entire apparatus shown in the drawing, causing three things to happen: The first is that ball 34 will rise to evidence the existence of the air flow and to measure the same. The second is that a suction force will be applied to the body cavity and drainage of its contents will commence. The third is that the mercury will be sucked up through inner tube 84 from its position in Fig. 2 until it will ultimately reach its position in Fig. 3. As the mercury is drawn up through inner tube 84 it is displaced by air drawn into the tube 82 through its side opening 96. The height of the mercury column decreases as the mercury is drawn into the generally conical receptacle which web 86 defines. When all of the mercury is drawn up into said conical receptacle the effective height of the mercury column is decreased to the point where its Weight is overcome by the suction force which is applied thereto by the suction system above described. The mercury barrier is thereby broken and air is drawn up through the mercury into the suction system, thereby breaking or interrupting the suction system. The reduction of the partial 'vacuum does not take place instantly'because the air which passes through the mercury barrier bubbles through in metered amounts. However, once the vacuum is reduced to the point where it is overcome by the weight of the mercury the mercury will drop through tube 84 back to its original location at the bottom of tube 82 as is shown in Fig. 2. Once again tube 86 will be closed off and the system will be permitted to build up the partial vacuum required for drainage purposes. This is an intermittent procedure wherein a partial vacuum is intermittently built up and broken down in the manner above described.

The foregoing is illustrative of a preferred form of this invention and it will be understood that this preferred form may be modified and other forms may be provided within the broad spirit of the invention and the broad scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. Intermittent suction apparatus for surgical use, comprising a continuous suction source, a manifold connected to said continuous suction source, a tube connected to said manifold, a collection bottle connected to said tube, a second tube also connected to said collection bottle, said second tube being adapted for insertion into a human cavity, and a manometer connected to said manifold, one end of said manometer communicating with said manifold and the opposite end of .said manometer communicating with the atmosphere, the manometer comprising an outer tube which is closed at one end and which is open at the opposite end to said manifold, said tube being also provided with an opening in its side wall, a second tube disposed within said first tube, said second tube being open both at the top and bottom, and an annular web connecting the upper end of said second tube to the inner wall of the first tube, said annular web defining a generally conical receptacle which communicates at its upper end with the upper end of the first tube and at its lower end with the upper end of the second tube, and a quantity of mercury normally carried at the lower closed end of the first tube, the suctional force developed by the suction source being adapted to draw the mercury up through the second tube and into the conical receptacle at the upper end of said second tube. i

2. Intermittent suction apparatus for surgical use,

. comprising a'continuous suction source, a manifold connected to said continuous suction source, a tube connected to said manifold, a-collection bottle connected to said tube, a second tube also connected to said collection bottle, said second tube being adapted for insertion into a human cavity, and a manometer connected to said manifold, one end of said manometer communicating with said manifold and the opposite end of said manometer communicating With the atmosphere, the manometer comprising an outer tube which is closed at one end and which is open at the opposite end to said manifold, said tube being also provided with an opening in its side wall, a second tube disposed within said first tube, said second tube being open both at the top and bottom, and an annular web connecting the upper end of said second tube to the inner wall of the first tube, said annular web defining a generally conical receptacle which communicates at its upper end with the upper end of the first tube and at its lower end with the upper end of the second tube, and a quantity of mercury normally carried at the lower closed end of the first tube, the suctional force developed by the suction source being adapted to draw the mercury up through the second tube and into the conical receptacle at the upper end of said second tube, an adjustable valve being provided between the continuous suction source and the manifold to control the flow through said manifold.

3. Intermittent suction apparatus for surgical use, comprising a continuous suction source, a manifold connected to said continuous suction source, a tube connected to said manifold, a collection bottle connected to said tube, a second tube also connected to said collection bottle, said second tube being adapted for insertion into a human cavity, and a manometer connected to said manifold, one end of said manometer communicating with said manifold and the opposite end of said manometer communicating with the atmosphere, the manometer comprising an outer tube which is closed at one end and which is open at the opposite end to said manifold, said tube being also provided with an opening in its side wall, a second tube disposed within said first-tube, said second tube being open both at the top and bottom, and an annular web connecting the upper end of said second tube to the inner wall of the first tube, said annular Web defining a generally conical receptacle which communicates at its upper'end with the upper end of the first tube and at its" lower end with the upper end of the second tube, and a quantity of mercury normally carried at the lower closed end of the first tube, the suctional force developed by the suction source being adapted to draw the mercury up through the second tube and into the conical receptacle at the upper end of said second tube, a flow meter with visible indicia being provided between the manifold and the first mentioned tube. l

4. Intermittent suction apparatus for surgical use, comprising a continuous suction source, a manifold connected to said continuous suction source, a tube connected to said manifold, a collection bottle connected to said tube, a second tube also connected to said collection bottle, said second tube being adapted forinsertion into ahuman cavity, and a manometer connected to said manifold, one end of said manometer communicating with said manifold and the opposite end of said manometer communicating with the atmosphere, the manometer com prising an outer tube which is closed at one end and which is open at the opposite end to said manifold, said tube being also provided with an opening in its side wall, a second tube disposed within said first tube, said second tube being open both at the topand bottom, and an annular web connecting the upper end of said second tube to the inner wall of the first tube, said annular web defining a generally conical receptacle which communicates at its upper end with the upper end of the first tube and at its lower end with the upper end of the second tube, and a quantity of mercury normally carried at the lower closed end of the first tube, the suctional force developed by the suction source being adapted to draw 15 2,727,678

5 tioned tube and said collection bottle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 1,209,846 Kells Dec. 26, 1916 1,673,811 Dowie Feb. 1, 1927 1,955,140 McKesson Apr. 17, 1934 2,135,148 Roy Nov. 1, 1938 2,693,198 Heath Nov. 2, 1954 Henderson Dec. 20, 1955 

